Larry Grogan (Irish: Labhras Gruagain;1899–1979) was an Irish
republican activist.
Born in Drogheda, Grogan joined the Irish Volunteers at the age of
18,[1] which subsequently became part of the original Irish Republican
Army (IRA). He was active in the Irish War of Independence, then in
the Irish Civil War in the anti-treaty IRA.[2] He was imprisoned in
Mountjoy Prison in 1922,[3] and was subsequently interned in the
Curragh Camp, where he kept an autograph book, collecting signatures
including that of Michael Hilliard.[1]
Grogan remained an active republican, and was elected to the IRA Army
Council in 1938.[4] In this capacity, he signed the ultimatum to the
British government declaring that, if major concessions were not made
immediately, a Sabotage Campaign would be initiated.[5] In September
1939, he was arrested along with the majority of the Council, and kept
at Arbour Hill Prison. The following year, he was transferred to the
Curragh, and assumed command of the IRA internees. He decided to
organise them in an effort to improve conditions, and in December the
group burnt down several wooden huts. This led to a clampdown,
including solitary confinement and an incident in which soldiers fired
on the inmates, killing one;[6] Grogan was subsequently removed from
the camp and given a prison term. Some of his time in gaol was spent
with Brendan Behan,[7] and the two remained friends, Behan often
visiting Grogan after the war.[1]
Grogan was released in March 1945, and immediately endorsed efforts to
rebuild the IRA. By the end of the decade, he had been appointed IRA
Quartermaster General.[8] He voted to launch the Border Campaign in
1956,[9] and was arrested and again interned in Mountjoy in January
1957. One year later, he was joined by his son. On this occasion, the
internees were led by Dáithí Ó Conaill, but older leaders such as
Grogan were regularly consulted.[10] While in gaol, he contested Louth
for Sinn Féin at the Irish general election, 1957, taking 9.6% of the
first preference votes.[11]
Released before the end of the decade, Grogan became increasingly
associated with the conservative wing of the movement.[12] He stood
again in Louth at the Irish general election, 1961, managing only 4.5%
of the vote,[13] and became a vice-president of Sinn Féin in
1962,[14] serving until 1969. In the split of 1970, Grogan supported
the provisional wing,[15] remaining on Sinn Féin's Ard Chomhairle.
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